The Pros and Cons of Being a Navy Family at Recruit Training Command
While our time here hasn't come to an end yet, I wanted to share an overall idea of how our life has been like since we moved to, what some in the Navy community call, "The Tundra".
Recruit Training Command (RTC) and Great Lakes are located in North Chicago, Illinois. And yes, right on the lake, so every time you visit you get that lovely wind the Chicagoland area is well known for. It currently serves as the Navy's only boot camp location.
(I took this picture pre-COVID. January, 2020.)
Getting the Orders
To be selected for RTC and become an RDC (Recruit Division Commander), you're supposed to be the best the Navy has to offer- like top 10%. So some might say it's an honor. However, there is also a need for them. So everyone's thoughts as to getting stationed here might be different.
As soon as my husband was selected and got the orders, anyone who has ever lived here freely gave their opinions. A lot of pros and cons, but we have moved so much I know to always keep an open mind and wait to form my own opinion.
I've learned someone's experience living somewhere truly depends on so many factors. Such as what neighborhood they lived in, what their involvement and interaction with the community were like, and also if any major events occurred during the time they were there.
With that said, I know our experience here has been much different than those of families past because of the pandemic alone. However, let's get into it.
The Pros and Cons
Housing
The basic housing allowance (BAH) you receive each month can cover mortgage and utilities in nice neighborhoods if you choose to live outside of base housing. And you don't even have to look an hour away like some other locations to find an affordable house to own or rent. We currently live about 20 minutes from the base and own our home. I know other people that own and live only 5 to 10 minutes from the base. Just depends on what part of town or schools you want to be at.
If you select base housing, I've heard it can go one way or the other. Some people have complained about mold, mildew, and basement flooding problems. However, others have said that they have absolutely loved it because they got a spacious house in a beautiful location, and right outside the base. So I really think it just depends on what you get.
Another pro I've heard about base housing out here, is that unlike other locations, they don't take the whole BAH. Japan, Maine, and San Diego took the whole housing allowance and had you pick from a list of military housing neighborhoods depending what rank the service member is. Here Hunt (the military housing company) offers various rent prices depending on the neighborhood and type of housing you wish to rent. So if you select something under the BAH, you can pocket the difference.
Things to Do in the Area
If you're concerned about what there is to do in a midwest location, that is not something you need to be too worried about here. There is literally something for everyone!
I have always lived near an ocean. So I wasn't sure if that would make a big impact on my attitude as I love beaches. However, Lake Michigan makes up for it. You have the benefits of an ocean-like place, minus the saltwater and sharks. Lake Michigan is absolutely beautiful and our favorite beach hang-out spot in the summer.
For the winter months, there are lots of parks that offer sledding hills. Yes even in the midwest plains, they have hills! Some parks even have free, public ice rinks to skate or play hockey on. There are also ski resorts in the area you can stay at or visit for the day to satisfy your extreme winter sports love of tubing, skiing, or snowboarding if that interests you.
Pretty much any time of year, you can access many of the beautiful forest preserve trails in the area. Some come in various terrains- dirt, gravel, grass, pavement. Most are great for walking and running. But some also boast wonderful bike paths for when the weather's appropriate. Many people will use these trails in the winter for snowmobiling, snowshoeing, or cross-country skiing.
This area is seriously an all-seasons, outdoor lovers' dream!
If the outdoors are not for you, don't fret. There are also plenty of malls, indoor playgrounds, theme parks, and also of course the cities as well. Yes, I said cities as in pleural because Great Lakes is situated almost equally between Chicago and Milwaukee. Both cities offer lots of beautiful attractions for you to explore- shops, museums, zoos, historic landmarks.
But What About the Snow?
Yes, there will be snow. Things generally do not close here because of snow either- unless there's a blizzard, a major snowstorm that has dropped feet of snow, or there's a polar vortex going on. However, they are generally very much on top of snow removal and treating the roads even before the snow starts falling. Just prepare appropriately for the weather and you'll be fine. And if you get stuck in the snow because you have a tiny two-cylinder car, call AAA and make some snow angels while you wait for a tow truck to come help.
How About Work?
There are so many job opportunities in this area. Whether you want to find something in a factory or farm in the rural areas, something in the suburban communities, or something in the city the doors are open for you. It really just boils down to your interest and skills. And with today's technology and COVID precautions, many company's are still offering plenty of remote work opportunities. This base is also very good about frequently holding job fairs for military families.
As far as my husband's work, he is generally very busy. The long work hours are no joke. When he's on push, it sometimes feels likes days before we actually see or spend time with him, even though he comes home every night. He just gets in so late and leaves so early that we just don't see him awake.
As bad as that sounds, it's not like that the whole tour. He pushes for one year, then has a year off to do a support job, and then one more year of push. Also in between pushes they usually give some time off. And I must say they have been very accommodating when it comes to family emergencies. Medically for some reason, we haven't had the best luck here. But every time I or one of our kids have had to go to the hospital, they have allowed him to leave almost immediately to be with us.
Anything Else to be Aware of?
It is currently very hard to find an opening at a daycare. If you do find a spot, the cost of tuition is insane- almost twice what I was paying for my oldest just two years ago. It is also sometimes hard to make certain doctor appointments if you have kids. So much is booked out so far, and there are also so many visitor restrictions. But these cons are really just special mentions because they have been greatly affected by the COVID pandemic. If it weren't for that I feel like these notes wouldn't even have to be made.
Would You Recommend It?
YES. A hundred times over, yes! Although my husband's work hours are sometimes ridiculous, we as a family have been very happy here. This is especially a great place to be if you have kids. The schools are great, we feel safe here, and there is so much for them to do.
I hope this post has helped if you have any questions about moving to this area or if you're considering it. If you have any further questions, feel free to drop a comment or reach out via email. I'll be happy to answer if I can or direct you to resources that may help.
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